No Doubt’s front lady Gwen Stefani’s recently released video, ‘Looking Hot’, garnered a boatload of public outcry for its offensive imagery. The video featured a scantily-clad Gwen Stefani dressed in Native American garb fighting against her cowboy captors.
Within hours of the video being posted, the band’s online discussion forum was flooded with comments from outraged fans. One fan wrote:
I was deeply offended by your trivialization of my culture. Eagle feathers, beadwork designs, the way that you fix your hair, even down to the colors that are used in traditional regalia all have spiritual and/or religious meaning for American Indian people. Many of these dances that we do at powwows have been done for hundreds of years and have a ceremonial purpose behind them. Being tied up in a prisoner type situation singing, “Go ahead and look at me ‘Cause that’s what I want” does more than add insult to injury. It makes light of American Indian woman that were raped and brutalized during U.S. colonization of America.
No Doubt subsequently removed the video and issued an apology:
As a multi-racial band our foundation is built upon both diversity and consideration for other cultures. Our intention with our new video was never to offend, hurt or trivialize Native American people, their culture or their history. Although we consulted with Native American friends and Native American studies experts at the University of California, we realize now that we have offended people. This is of great concern to us and we are removing the video immediately. The music that inspired us when we started the band, and the community of friends, family, and fans that surrounds us was built upon respect, unity and inclusiveness. We sincerely apologize to the Native American community and anyone else offended by this video. Being hurtful to anyone is simply not who we are.
– No Doubt
Glad they issued the apology and removed the video, but what the heck were they thinking in the first place?
